Last graduation for New Hope Academy?

It was graduation time Wednesday night for seniors at the New Hope Academy charter school in York. Those connected with the school are hoping it won't be the school's last.

Seventy seniors got their diplomas from New Hope in a lively graduation that was every bit as much celebration as it was ceremony. But the future of the school remains uncertain.

Last July, the York City school board denied the school's five-year charter renewal, saying the school has not lived up to its academic expectations or followed state guidelines for operation.

New Hope appealed the decision to the state, and school officials are optimistic about their future.

“I'm confident,” said principal Don Trost. “We are fully committed to completing the appeal process for the renewal of our charter and hope within a month or two to have some directions on when that's going to happen.”

Trost says it remains business as usual at the school as they prepare for the fall.

Trost says for the third year in a row the school has produced a 95 percent graduation rate. He says 85 percent of the seniors have already committed to a college and have earned over $1.2 million in scholarships.

“I think that they're going to be fine,” said Margaret Figueroa, who says she has two children in New Hope. “I think that if they community stands behind them that they will just keep going forward and will continue to be successful in the community.”

“I know New Hope Charter will still be there,” said parent Stephanie McCray. “I'm not worried about that, not at all.”